The Pastor’s Corner

The Morning Devotional for September 3, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism 68; The Westminster Larger Catechism Q135

Question 68
What is required in the sixth commandment?
The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, (Eph. 5:28–29) and the life of others. (1 Kings 18:4)

Question 135
What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
The duties required in the sixth commandment are all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves (Eph. 5:28–29) and others (1 Kings 18:4) by resisting all thoughts and purposes, (Jer. 26:15–16, Acts 23:12,16–17,21,27) subduing all passions, (Eph. 4:26–27) and avoiding all occasions, (2 Sam. 2:22, Deut. 22:8) temptations, (Matt. 4:6–7, Prov. 1:10,11,15–16) and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; (1 Sam. 24:12, 1 Sam. 26:9–11, Gen. 37:21–22) by just defence thereof against violence, (Ps. 82:4, Prov. 24:11–12, 1 Sam. 14:45) patient bearing of the hand of God, (James 5:7–11, Heb. 12:9) quietness of mind, (1 Thess. 4:11, 1 Pet. 3:3–4, Ps. 37:8–11) cheerfulness of spirit; (Prov. 17:22) a sober use of meat, (Prov. 25:16,27) drink, (1 Tim. 5:23) physick, (Isa. 38:21) sleep, (Ps. 127:2) labour, (Eccl. 5:12, 2 Thess. 3:10,12, Prov. 16:26) and recreations; (Eccl. 3:4,11) by charitable thoughts, (1 Sam. 19:4–5, 1 Sam. 22:13–14) love, (Rom. 13:10) compassion, (Luke 10:33–34) meekness, gentleness, kindness; (Col. 3:12–13) peaceable, (James 3:17) mild and courteous speeches and behaviour; (1 Pet. 3:8–11, Prov. 15:1, Judges 8:1–3) forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; (Matt. 5:24, Eph. 4:2,32, Rom. 12:17,20) comforting and succouring the distressed and protecting and defending the innocent. (1 Thess. 5:14, Job 31:19–20, Matt. 25:35–36, Prov. 31:8–9)

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The Morning Devotional for September 2, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q67-68

Question 67
Which is the sixth commandment?
The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill. (Exod. 20:13)

Question 68
What is required in the sixth commandment?
The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, (Eph. 5:28–29) and the life of others. (1 Kings 18:4)

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The Morning Devotional for September 1, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q65-66

Question 65
What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations. (Matt. 15:4–6, Ezek. 34:2–4, Rom. 13:8)

Question 66
What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’ s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. (Deut. 5:16, Eph. 6:2–3)

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The Morning Devotional for August 31, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q63-64

Question 63
Which is the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (Exod. 20:12)

Question 64
What is required in the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, (Eph. 5:21) inferiors, (1 Pet. 2:17) or equals. (Rom. 12:10)

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The Morning Devotional for August 30, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q62

What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’ s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, (Exod. 20:9) his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath-day. (Exod. 20:11)

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The Morning Devotional for August 27, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q61

What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, (Amos 8:5, Mal. 1:13) and the profaning the day by idleness, (Acts 20:7,9) or doing that which is in itself sinful, (Ezek. 23:38) or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations. (Jer. 17:24–26, Isa. 58:13)

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The Morning Devotional for August 26, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q60 (Part Two)

How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?
The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, (Exod. 20:8,10, Exod. 16:25–28) even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; (Neh. 13:15–19) and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’ s worship, (Luke 4:16, Acts 20:7, Ps. 92, Isa. 66:23) except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. (Matt. 12:1–31)

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The Morning Devotional for August 25, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q60 (Part One)

How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?
The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, (Exod. 20:8,10, Exod. 16:25–28) even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; (Neh. 13:15–19) and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’ s worship, (Luke 4:16, Acts 20:7, Ps. 92, Isa. 66:23) except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. (Matt. 12:1–31)

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The Morning Devotional for August 24, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q59

Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath. (Gen. 2:2–3, 1 Cor. 16:1–2, Acts 20:7)

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The Morning Devotional for August 23, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q58

What is required in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to himself. (Deut. 5:12–14)

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The Morning Devotional for August 19, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q57

Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it. (Exod. 20:8–11)

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The Morning Devotional for August 18, 2021
The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q55-56

Question 55
What is forbidden in the third commandment?
The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning and abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known. (Mal. 1:6–7,12, Mal. 2:2, Mal. 3:14)

Question 56
What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment. (1 Sam. 2:12,17,22,29, 1 Sam. 3:13, Deut. 28:58–59)

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